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(Barrie, J. M.)

Autograph letter, signed, together with The Allahakbarries C. C.

Barrie, J. M.

1934, 1950. (1)ff. autograph letter, dated July 25th, 1934. A letter from J. M. Barrie to William Maldon "Bill" Woodfull, the Australian cricketer who captained both the Victoria and Australia cricket teams. Barrie comments on the fourth game of the 1934 Ashes series, in which Australia played against England, saying, "It was a glorious victory except statistically, and as such I think everyone accepts it. That partnership of Bradman and Ponsford goes into history." Barrie is referring to the partnership of legendary Australian cricket players Bill Ponsford and Donald Bradman, who set a world record for partnership in Test cricket during the final game of that series, leading Australia to win the series. Their record stood unsurpassed for fifty-seven years. It is clear that Barrie followed the matches with great interest. The fourth match was a draw, and Barrie speculates, "what a match it will make of the final one, which otherwise would drop into a minor place." Although best known as the author of Peter Pan, Barrie was an enthusiastic amateur cricketer, in spite of the fact that he wasn't particularly good at the game. He followed the sport and even organized his own team, the Allahakbarries, which played from 1890 to 1913. The team included many famous writers of the time, including A. A. Milne, P. G. Wodehouse, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Together with a copy of the 1950 edition of The Allahakbarries C. C., a book that Barrie wrote about the team, which was first privately published in 1890. The 1950 edition includes a foreword by Donald Bradman, whom Barrie clearly admired. The book presents an illustrated history of the team and pokes fun at the team's lack of talent. Letter is in extremely fine condition. The book has some slight foxing to edges of the dust wrapper, which is price-clipped, has a few spots of soiling to the front panel, and some loss to spine ends. Text block slightly loose, else a very good copy. Item #24175